McMechen History, Family Crest & Coats of Arms

• Origins Available:
• Ireland

Early Origins of the McMechen family

Early History of the McMechen family

This web page shows only a small excerpt of our McMechen research. Another 102 words (7 lines of text) are included under the topic Early McMechen History in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

McMechen Spelling Variations

The recording of names in Ireland in the Middle Ages was an inconsistent endeavor at best. One must realize that attempting to record a Gaelic name in English is a daunting task at the best of times. Even today the translation is a difficult one. Accordingly, research into the name McMechen revealed spelling variations, including O'Meehan, Meighan, MacMeehan, MacMeekin, MacMeekan,MacMehan, MacMehon and many more.

Early Notables of the McMechen family

More information is included under the topic Early McMechen Notables in all our PDF Extended History products and printed products wherever possible.

Migration of the McMechen family

Irish families fled the English-colonized Ireland in record numbers during the 19th century for North America. Many of those destitute families died from disease during, and even shortly after, the long journey. Although those that immigrated before the Great Potato Famine of the 1840s often were granted a tract of land, those that arrived later were generally accommodated in urban centers or in work camps. Those in the urban centers would labor in the manufacturing sector, whereas those in work camps would to build critical infrastructures such as bridges, canals, roads, and railways. Regardless of when these Irish immigrants came to North America, they were critical for the rapid development of the young nations of the United States and Canada. Early immigration and passenger lists have recorded many early immigrants bearing the name of McMechen: Owen McMehan, who settled in Philadelphia in 1845; Juda and Felix McMean settled in Boston in 1768.